Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR

Overview

Introduction

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR is a prescription medicine used for treating insomnia. It is generally used in combination with other medicines. It relaxes the brain and helps to treat people who have problems with their sleeping habits.

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR may be taken with or without food. However, take it at the same time each day as this helps to maintain a consistent level of medicine in the body. Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor as it has a high potential of habit-forming.

If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. It is important that this medication is not stopped suddenly without talking to your doctor as it may cause nausea and anxiety. It should only be used for a limited period as long term use of this medicine is not recommended.

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR may cause dizziness and sleepiness as side effects of this medicine, so do not drive if you have taken this medicine. Moreover, driving under the influence of this medicine is also considered as an offense. Other common side effects of this medicine include unsteadiness and impaired coordination. These are usually temporary and resolve on their own. Please consult your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away.

This medicine may cause weight gain also. Thus, it is better to eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise regularly. It should be noted that in elderly patients this medicine may reduce the muscle tone and increased risk of falls. You should avoid alcohol intake while taking this medicine as it will increase drowsiness.

Uses of Nitraz Tablet SR

Side effects of Nitraz Tablet SR

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Nitraz

Dizziness

Sedation

Drowsiness

Unsteadiness

Impaired coordination

How to cope with side effects?

The occurrence of side effects varies from person to person. The following are a few ways of dealing with some of the common side effects. However, consult your doctor if these persist.

Coping with Dizziness

This is usually short-lived and should go away within a few days. If this happens, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Lying still in a dark, quiet room may help reduce the spinning feeling. Sleep with your head slightly raised on two or more pillows. Get up slowly from a lying or sitting position. Get plenty of rest and try to relax as being anxious can make it worse. Try taking this medicine at bedtime to reduce the symptoms. Drinking plenty of water and ginger tea may also help. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking as it will make you feel worse. Avoid driving or using tools or machinery until you feel better.

Coping with Drowsiness

If the medicine is making you drowsy during the day, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. You can also consider taking a nap. Physical exercises such as walking may be helpful. Do not drink alcohol, as it will make you feel more tired. Avoid driving or operating heavy equipment when you are feeling drowsy. This problem usually goes away as your body gets used to the medicine. However, if it does not, ask your doctor if you can take your medicine at bedtime or whether the dose can be reduced.

Coping with Impaired coordination

If you feel unsteady, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Try getting up very slowly from a sitting or lying position. If your condition does not improve, talk with your doctor about changing the dose or trying an alternative medicine.

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How to use Nitraz Tablet SR

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

How Nitraz Tablet SR works

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR is a benzodiazepine. It works by increasing the action of a chemical messenger (GABA) which suppresses the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.

Safety Advice

Alcohol

UNSAFE

It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR.

Pregnancy

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.

Breastfeeding

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.

Driving

UNSAFE

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR may cause side effects such as reduced alertness, confusion, tiredness, dizziness, poor muscle coordination and double vision. This may affect your ability to drive.

Kidney

CAUTION

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Liver

CAUTION

Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.

What if you forget to take Nitraz Tablet SR?

If you miss a dose of Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Alternate Brands

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

No alternate brands found for this medicine

Quick Tips

If you are taking Nitraz 10mg Tablet SR for the treatment of insomnia, it should not be used for more than 4 weeks.

Take it 30 to 45 minutes before bedtime and only when you have time to sleep for at least 7 hours.

The addiction / habit-forming potential of this medicine is very high. Take it only as per the dose and duration advised by your doctor

It may cause dizziness. Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.

Avoid consuming alcohol as it may increase dizziness and drowsiness.

Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or breastfeeding.

If you have been taking this medicine for a long time, regular monitoring of blood and liver functions may be required.

Inform your doctor if you notice a rash or other skin changes such as reddish spots or circular patches while taking this medicine.

Do not stop taking medication suddenly without talking to your doctor as that may lead to nausea, anxiety, agitation, flu-like symptoms, sweating, tremor, and confusion.

Interaction with Drugs

Taking Nitraz with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects

FAQs

Q. Does Nitraz get you high?

Yes, Nitraz can get you high especially when more than the recommended dose is used for a long period of time. Patients with a history of alcoholism, drug abuse and personality disorders should be closely monitored since these patients may intentionally take more than the recommended doses of Nitraz to get “high”.

Q. How quickly does Nitraz work?

Nitraz works quickly. It takes 30 to 60 minutes to induce sleep following which the person may remain asleep for 6 to 8 hours. Therefore, it should be taken just before going to bed.

Q. Does Nitraz help you sleep?

Yes, Nitraz is in fact used for short-term treatment of insomnia (trouble falling asleep). It shortens the time taken to fall asleep and lengthens the duration of sleep. It helps you to sleep but does not cure the underlying cause of your insomnia, which you should discuss with your doctor.

Q. What is Nitraz? How does it make you feel?

Nitraz belongs to the benzodiazepine class of medicines. These medicines are known as tranquillizers, which means they have a calming effect and make you feel relaxed. However, its prolonged use may cause some side effects like excessive drowsiness, reduced alertness, confusion, tiredness, etc.

Q. What are the symptoms of an overdose of Nitraz?

Taking high doses of Nitraz may cause mild or serious side effects. The mild symptoms of an overdose of Nitraz include drowsiness, mental confusion and tiredness. In more serious cases, you may develop inability to move, loss of muscle tone, fall in blood pressure, breathing difficulties, coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time) and very rarely death.

Q. Why has my doctor prescribed Nitraz for a short duration? Can I take it longer than that?

Treatment with Nitraz should be as short as possible. Generally, including the gradual reduction of dose (tapering process), the duration of treatment varies from a few days to two weeks and can extend up to a maximum of four weeks. Higher doses of this medicine are not at all recommended. If you take the medicine for longer than the prescribed duration of time, you may develop physical and psychological dependence and tolerance (higher dose required to have the same effect).

Q. Can I stop taking Nitraz?

Do not stop taking Nitraz before consulting your doctor. Stopping the treatment suddenly may cause withdrawal symptoms which include a recurrence of sleep problems, depression, nervousness, extreme anxiety, tension, restlessness, and confusion. The withdrawal symptoms may also include mood changes, irritability, sweating, diarrhea, headache, and muscle weakness.

Q. Is Nitraz safe for old people?

Nitraz should be used with care in elderly people. Usually, the dose advised for aged people is half of what is normally advised. This means that the dose should be restricted to 2.5 or 5 mg. Since Nitraz relaxes the muscles, elderly patients should take extra care when they get up at night as there is a risk of falls and consequently of injuries including hip fractures.

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1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover all possible side effects, drug interactions or warnings or alerts. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

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